HABERDASHERY IN FELIXSTOWE

My husband and I joined some family members and friends on Saturday in Ipswich to celebrate at a joint 70th birthday party.  The party was for my cousin, Alan, and his wife, Roz, and was arranged in secret by their sons Nathan, Duncan and Ben - the surprise on their faces was priceless and the party was a great success.

Thanks must go to Jim and Pat Baxter for stepping into the breach when the first taxi we ordered never arrived, and then six other firms mysteriously had "no cars available" when they realised the party venue was on the site of an old hospital and many of the abandoned buildings are still standing!  It was quite spooky waiting outside in the dark, even with the noise of the wedding reception in another room at the venue, so we were glad to return to the party.

Everyone loved the wonderful birthday cake which, for quite a while, we all thought was a bouquet of flowers!  It was a shame to dissect it but the cupcakes were delicious!

Yesterday, in an attempt to blow away our hangovers, I drove the short distance from Ipswich to Felixstowe for what turned out to be a bracing walk along the sea front!  That did the job perfectly!  We first walked around the town, bought a couple of books and a lovely brass jug from a selection of charity shops, and then found a parking space on the sea front close to the Sunday market.  The market was smaller than our last visit five years ago but I was happy to see that the book stall I love was still there and, joy of joys, a new haberdashery shop called Botchett and Leggitt.  I could easily have spent a small fortune but restrained myself to just three purchases - some ready-made foam covers for coat hangers which I'll use with my Cath Kidston Stanley fabric, and two lovely vintage wool holders.

Vintage wool holders are wonderful and the salmon pink one has a lovey ornate pattern on the lid which, unfortunately, doesn't photograph well.  As I knit often from 500 gram cones, Bob bought me this heavy kitchen roll holder which does the job perfectly.

They say that small is beautiful and Botchett and Leggitt's two units definitely are!  Dot, the lovely little dog who hides under the chair, makes a delightful watchdog too.  Pop in if you are ever in Felixstowe - you can find them at Mannings' Market just behind the amusement arcade.  They have a website www.botchettandleggitt.com and are a Facebook page too www.facebook.com/BotchettAndLeggitt